Yori solemnly shook his head. ‘I’ve not performed funeral rites before, but I think everything is in place. We’re just waiting on Yuudai now.’

Jack and the others turned to watch Yuudai limp up the rise, Neko helping him along.

‘You’re a powerful healer,’ Yori remarked to Miyuki.

Humbly acknowledging the compliment, Miyuki replied, ‘He’s strong, as well as lucky that the bullet only hit him in the leg.’

Yuudai stiffly bowed his respects to his fallen comrade. In a quiet voice, he said, ‘A courageous warrior, an honourable samurai and a loyal friend. We’ll never forget your sacrifice.’

Offering more incense to the pyre, Yori now began the ritual and they all fell silent. Then the fire was lit and Hayato’s body was given to the flames.

Below in the square, the villagers knelt in honour of the young samurai. The sound of their weeping drifted up as tears of grief flowed for Hayato and all who’d lost their lives.

‘Like the snow covering this earth, there will be new beginnings,’ Yori proclaimed. ‘Winter will pass, spring will bring new life and this village will blossom once more.’

Later that morning, Junichi’s remains were cremated in the same manner as Hayato and his ashes buried in the fields. Once these rites had been observed, Toge was duly appointed as the new village leader. Over the course of the next few days, he organized the farmers to bring down the barricade and start the building of a new bridge. All the weapons, including the bandits’, were collected together and offered to the young samurai and Miyuki out of respect. But it was agreed that the farmers should keep them – they had earned the right.

While Miyuki and Neko cleared the forest of traps, Jack and Saburo helped in salvaging what they could from the burnt-out mill. Yori visited each family in turn, offering spiritual comfort and guidance where needed. And Yuudai, despite his injuries, refused to rest and spent his time chopping the watchtower into firewood.

On the fourth day, a celebration was deemed in order. That afternoon, everyone gathered in the square to eat, drink and rejoice in their victory over Akuma and his bandits. Breaking into their most precious of stores, a feast was laid on by the women of the village. Along with mounds of rice, they’d prepared miso soup, tofu, pickled vegetables, grilled fish, and even a barrel or two of saké had been opened.

‘Yuudai seems quite settled here,’ remarked Miyuki, nodding in the boy’s direction.

Jack looked over to where Yuudai was sitting. Their friend was trying not to laugh as Neko stuffed another pickled vegetable in his already-brimming mouth.

Jack smiled. ‘Neko looks happy too.’

Miyuki considered the couple. ‘Perhaps a ninja’s life isn’t for her, after all.’

She turned to Jack. ‘So have you thought about when we’re leaving for Nagasaki?’